Yes, I exercise, but I have to be honest with you guys, I need to do it more consistently. There was a time when I did it every day. I used to walk between 10 and 20 miles a week. I’d walk 2 miles each way to work (Philadelphia proper is a walkable town) and then I’d take long 3 or 4-hour walks/hikes on the weekend. I walked to burn calories and keep blood sugars at bay; I walked to be outside, I walked to breathe the air, and most importantly, I walked to clear my mind.

I loved what it did for my head, not to mention what it did for my ass ;)

On days I couldn’t walk outside, I’d go to the gym and do an hour on the elliptical. I’d set my temporary basal rate to ½, tune into my ipod and tune out the world.

Yes, it required fiddling with my Temporary basals, and sometimes, I’d suspend my pump for an hour. But all the fiddling was worth it because I had great numbers.

Then I screwed up the ligaments in my toe and will eventually have to have surgery. Only yours truly could break her toe and tare her ligament walking UP the steps- perfectly sober. It forced me to realize that long weekend hikes would leave my foot hurting for days afterwards.

It bummed me out that I couldn’t do my long crazy walks, and I wallowed in it for a long time. But then I had a meeting with myself and basically said: STOP COMPLAINING!

Last year I discovered Aqua Boot camp. YES, Aqua Boot camp, and yes, I know the image that come to your head- See video at top of post.

I have to admit; I thought it was for caddies and the geriatric set too, and yeah- there are some seniors (and ironically no caddies that I'm aware of) in my class- AND THEY WILL KICK YOUR ASS! I’m Serious, they will. WHY? Because Aqua Bootcamp is TOUGH. Two hours in the pool doing aerobics and weight training. 45 minutes in the shallow end, 55 minutes in the deep-end, and a 10-minute cool down. It builds endurance and muscle tone and it burns calories like gasoline to a flame.

Aqua Boot Camp requires some scheduling, (both in the water and out,) on my part. I have to make sure I wake up early on Sunday morning, cut my basal rate by 2/3’s , and I don’t bolus for my breakfast. I also eat slightly more than usual.

I test before I leave the locker room, which is always interesting - and I like to enter the pool with a bg of about 190.

I disconnect right before I go in the pool and check my blood sugar an hour and ten minutes into my workout. By the end of the class, my numbers are in the double digits, around 70, sometimes lower.I eat a larabar immediately and wait for my numbers to rise before I hit the shower.

Yes, Aqua Boot Camp is work in every sense of the world, but I love the water; I love the calories burned, and I love being disconnected. It took some trial and error to figure the whole pump aspect out, but it's totally worth it!

Drawbacks of Aqua Bootcamp: It’s only offered at my gym twice a week, it's not a quick workout and I need something daily.

I’m considering RUMBA, Spin class, and riding my bike outside – once I figure out how to get my bike w/two flat tires to the bikes\ shop to fill/fix two flat tires.

I also want to buy a pair of roller skates (not blades, because I suck at rollerblading) but actual roller skates. I was good at rollerskating in middle school, and it's easy on the feet. Leeann’s tweets & FB Statuses about the Roller Derby and her new skates reminded me of how much fun I used to have way back when.

I won't be doing doing the Roller Derby any time soon, but I'd love to feel the sun and breeze on my face as I roller boogie the calories away, and shake my "booty to the beat" in the process~

You are an inspiration Kelly! Ahhh roller derby - have you seen 'Whip It' the movie? Brings back memories of watching the Philadelphia Warriors with my family. Those girls kicked some a$$. I am sure once you get your formal roller skates, you will too Kelly :0)

Motivation is hard enough to find, and the fact that you can find reasons to get out there and work through pain is certainly an inspiration. Also, your lurker post was the last nudge I needed to start my own D-Blog - so thanks!

Not to crush your dream of skating again but just remember that falling now is not like it was back when you were young. I only say that as I was watching some adult beginners just last week and thinking about how much fun it would be when WHAM, one fell down hard and ended up heading to the hospital with a wrist injury. So if you start, wear a helmet and wrist guards!!

Lauren's Hope

HealthLine Best Diabetes Blogs 2017

Healthline Best Diabetes Blogs 2016

Healthline Best Diabetes Blogs

Spare A Rose..... Save A Child

What People Are Saying About Kelly Kunik's Diabetesalicious Humor

"I laughed so hard I puked all over my pump -Just kidding......

Kelly's intimate knowledge of living with diabetes makes her the perfect person to poke fun at all of our little eccentricities. If laughter really is the best medicine, then Kelly should be nominated for Sturgeon General."Gary Scheiner - Certified Diabetes Educator, Owner & Operator of Integrated Diabetes Services, Author of "You Can Control Diabetes" and "How to Think Like A Pancreas."Marx Brothers Fan for life, T1 for 20 years .

"Kelly Kunik performed her Diabetes Comedy Act at the Diabetes, Exercise, & Sports Association (DESA) National meeting in Colorado Springs in June of 2007. She had the room laughing all night! It was great to see the light side of Diabetes for once...."

Rick Philbin, Type 1, Board of Directors, DESA

"Kelly was very engaging with her humor and positive attitude in looking at life with Diabetes on a lighter side. Everyone in my Diabetes Support group lowered their glucose levels with laughter that evening!"

Bryony Crane, RD CDE

Virtua Diabetes and Nutrition Svs

"Dr. Kelly keeps you laughing.......Great bedside manner!"

Boston Charlie - T1 30 years

"As a Diabetes Educator, I'm always looking for new ways to help patients. Kelly Kunik offers a unique way of educating patients through laughter.There's a tremendous validation in Kelly's approach - Everybody thinks that no one once else has diabetes related issues, day & day out. Whether it getting your tubing caught on a door nob; acting out with a low blood sugar, or dealing with the same old questions. Silly or serious, Kelly's observations allow patients to feel better about themselves.When people feel good about themselves, they practice betterself management. IT'S ALL GOOD.We all had so much fun the night Kelly spoke to my Type 1 support group."